Vibrator for discharging hopper bottom containers



Jan. 6, 1953 A. MusscHooT ET AL 2,624,479

VIBRATOR FOR DISCHARGING HOPPER BOTTOM CONTAINERS Filed March 15, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l Jan. 6, 1953 A. MusscHooT ET AL 2,624,479

VIBRATOR FOR DISCHARGING HOPPER BOTTQM CONTAINERS Filed March 15, 1949 4 SheetsSheet 2 INVEN 1012s -/4/erf/1/wsc/70af nd C'fiar/es M )60/77, J/r

Jan. 6, 1953 A. MUSSCHOOT El AL VIBRATOR FOR DISCHARGING HOPPER BOTTOM CONTAINERS Filed March 15, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q a a,\\\muw Jan. 6, 1953 A. MUSSCHOOT El AL 2,624,479

VIBRATOR FOR DISCHARGING HOPPER BOTTOM CONTAINERS Filed March 15, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. fl/er'f Musscfioaf 0d 6770/ /95 M YOu/Iy, Jn

Patented Jan. 6, 1953 VIBRATOR FOR DISCHARGING HOPPER BOTTOM CONTAINERS Albert Musschoot, Park Ridge, 111;, and Charles M.

Young, Jr., Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to Link- Belt Company, a corporation of Illinois Application March 15, 1949', Serial No. 81,467.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in vibrators for hopper bottom containers, and deals more specifically with vibrators for discharging hopper bottom railway cars used for the transportation of coal, ore and the like.

It is the primary object of this invention to provide a vibrator for discharging hopper bottom containers which will vibrate the containers at a magnitude and in a direction to give most satisfactory results without damage to the containers.

A further object of the invention is to so mount a prime mover on the frame of a vibrator as to minimize the shocks'or impact forces applied to the prime mover;

A still further important object of the invention is to provide a vibrator that'is so proportioned and actuated as to partake of bodily pivotal movements about a point of contact between the vibrator frame and a container to apply impact blows to the container.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

Figure l is an end elevational view of the vibrator embodying this invention shown positioned for operation in unloading a hopper bottom railway car,

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view, partly broken away, of the vibrator,

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the vibrator,

Figure 4 is a partly vertical sectional view and partly end elevational view of the vibrator,

- Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Fig. 8,

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 66 of Fig. 4, and

Figure 7 is a fragmentary end elevational View .of a shaftbearing housing.

In the drawings, wherein illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, and first particularly referring to Fig. 1, reference character 8 designates a hopper bottom railway car supported in the conventional manner by the springs 9 on the wheeledtrucks l0 and provided with the gate controlled discharge openings II for unloading the coal I2 or other material which the car contains. The vibrator I3 is shown in an operative position with its end portions resting on the tops of the oppofor the purpose 9 Claims; (Cl. 21483.3)

site sides of the car 8. The chains M are connected to the vibrator l3 for maintaining it in the desired position. I

Referring now to Figs. 1 through '7 for a detailed description of the vibrator I3, reference character l5 designates a bridge which is rectangular in plan, and consists basically of two transverse I-beams l6 and [1 having their corresponding end portions connected by the horizontal plates l8. Vertical side plates !9 are suitably connected to the ends of the transverse beams l6 and I1 and the outer edges of the horizontal plates 18.

'Outer retaining plates 28 are connected to the outer'fianges of the transverse beams 15 and I! andde end from the lower flanges throughout the entire lengths of the beams. Short inner retaining plates 2| are positioned at and connected to the inner flanges at each end portion of the I-beams I6 and I1 and depend from the lower flanges. The ends of the outer retaining plates 20 extend beyond the ends of the beams l6 and I! and are provided with openings 22 for connecting the chains M to the bridge I5, see Fig. l.

The bottom surface of each one of the I-beams l5 and I1 is provided with a suitably connected impact shoe 23 at one end, and a pivot shoe 23a at the other end.

The length of the bridge I5 is such that the shoes 23 and 23a will rest on the tops of the sides of the car 8. The bridge I5 will be prevented from moving laterally off of the car by the depending retaining plates 20 and 2! which extend below the shoes 23.

Bearing support plates 24 and 25 are mounted vertically near the ends of the bridge I 5 and are connected to the horizontal plates l8 and the vertical'side plates 19. The stiffening flan es 28 are connected to the bottoms of the vertical plates 24 and 25 between the horizontal plates 18." Cover flanges 21 project laterally in ardly fromthe top edges of the vertical plates 24 and 25 and extend between the vertical side plates l9.' A"stiffening brace 28 is connected to the flanges 26' and 21 of each of the vertical plates 24 and 25.

' Each of the vertical plates 24 and 25 is provided with a reinforced opening near one side of the bridge l5 for receiving a roller bearing cartridge 29 which is fastened to the vertical plate by the bolts 38. Ashaft 32 extends between and is supported by the bearings 29. The inner races of the bearings 29 are tapered as are the end portions of the shaft 32 so that the lock nuts 33 prevent lateral movement of the shaft relative to the bearings. The outer side of the housing of each bearing cartridge 28 includes a cover plate 34 which is removably fastened in place by the bolts 35.

A pair of identical fly-wheels 36, provided with counter-weights 31, are mounted one on each end portion of the shaft 32 and keyed to the shaft to prevent relative rotary movement therebetween. The locations of the fiy-wheels 36 on the shaft 32 are such that they are peripherally enclosed by the cover flanges 21 which therefore act as housings.

The shaft 32 is also provided with a sprocket 38 which is keyed to the shaft so that rotation of the sprocket will cause rotation of the shaft and its counter-weighted fly-wheels.

A support 39 is provided for properly mounting a driving motor on the bridge l5. The motor support includes two arms 48 and 4| which are each pivotally connected at one of their extremities to one side of the bridge l5. As illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4, the pivotal connections between the arms 40 and 4| and the bridge l each consists of a pair of hinge posts 42 with a bolt 43 extending therebetween for receiving the bushing 44 on the arm 40 or the bushing 45 on the arm 4|. The arm 48 consists of a sin le channel member 43 extending across the bridge and having a notch 41 to provide clearance between the shaft 32 and the arm. The arm 4! consists of a pair of channel members 48 and 4! extending across the bridge in spaced back-to-back relation, each located ad acent to and on op osite sides of the lower portion of the sprocket 38. Each of the channel members 48 and 8 is provided with a notch 58 to provide clearance between the shaft and the arm 4|.

A housing 5|, having a flanged lower edge around its four sides, rests upon and is connected to the upper flan es of the channel members 48 and 9 to cover the upper portion of the sprocket 38. The housing 5| is provided with a notch in the lower margin of each side to provide clearance between the shaft 32 and the housing.

A platform 52 is positioned beneath and connected to the bottom flanges of the end portions of the arms 4!} and 4| opposite their pivotal connections with the bridge |5. The platform 52 extends between the arms and is provided with downwardly flanged side portions to increase its strength.

As illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, the arms 48 and 4| are each provided beyond the platform 52 with a horizontal mounting fin 53 lying directly above and parallel to the adjacent horizontal side plate l8.

Lu s 54, having centrally located openings, are suitably connected in vertical alinement to each side of the mounting fins 53 and to the upper surface of the side plate l8. vided in the fins 53 and the side plate I8 in alinement with the openings in the lugs 54. Stud bolts 55 are inserted through the abovementioned openings and extend upwardly from the mounting fins. A coil spring 56 is positioned on a bolt 55 between each mounting fin 53 and the side plate IR. A second coil spring 5! is positioned over that portion of each bolt 55 which extends upwardly from a mounting fin. A roll of belting or similar material 58, which will dampen the vibratory movements, is enclosed within the convolutions of each of the springs 56 and 51. A washer 59, having an offset bottom surface, is fitted onto the upper end of each bolt 55 and rests upon the top of the associated spring Openings are pro- 4 51 so that the offset portion lies within the uppermost coil of the spring. Nuts 60 are threaded onto each end of the bolts and tightened to compress the springs 56 and 51 and the belting 58 into tight frictional contact with the springs. Lateral movement of the springs 56 and 51 is prohibited by the lugs 54 and the offset portion of the washer 59.

As a result of the above described connection between the mounting fins 53 and the horizontal side plate I8, upward and downward movements of the platform 52 are resisted by the springs 51 and 56, respectively.

An electric motor 6|, having a laterally adjustable base 62, is mounted on the platform 52 so that its shaft 63 extends into the space within the housing 5| and between the channel members 48 and. 49 of the arm 4|. The portion of the shaft 63 within the above space is provided with a driving sprocket 64. A chain 65, or other suitable device, drivingly connects the sprockets 64 and 38 so that operation of the motor will rotate the shaft 32 and its attached fly-wheels 36.

An apertured ear 66 is mounted near the longitudinal center of each vertical side plate I9 so that a hoisting chain or cable may be connected to the vibrator l3 for movement to and from the tops of cars which are to be discharged.

Referring now to Fig. 4 for a detailed discussion of the locations and proportions of various parts of the vibrator l3, the design is such that when the fiy-wheels 36 and their counterweights 3'! are rotated, the bridge will partake of pivotal movement about the point P, or the outer extremities of the two shoes 23a, to deliver impact blows at the other side of the bridge I 5 through the two shoes 23. In order to provide for the above described operation, the axis of the shaft 32 is located substantially at the center of percussion C of the vibrator |3 with respect to the pivotal movement about the point P. Further, the center of gravity G of the vibrator l3 lies in the line X--X that passes through the axis of the shaft 32 and the pivot point P. In other words, the shaft 32 is so located that forces may be applied along the line YY through the shaft in a direction normal to the line X-X without causing a reaction at the pivot point P. This line Y-Y illustrates the direction of the application of forces when pivotal movement of the bridge |5 about the point P brings the shoes 23 on the impact side into contact with the tops of the sides of the car 8.

Looking now to the operating characteristics of the vibrator I3, actuation of the motor 6| causes rotation of the shaft 32 with its fly-wheels 36 and their attached counter-weights 37. As a result of the unbalanced condition of this rotating mass, radial forces are developed which sweep through each one of the 360 of a complete revolution. These forces can be resolved into two comonents, one along the line YY, and the other along the line X-X. Because of the location of the shaft 32 at the center of percussion C, the components along line Y-Y produce pivotal movements about the point P. The components of the forces along the line X--X result in reciprocal sliding movement of the vibrator l3 along the top of the car 8.

The operation of the vibrator l3 may be divided into two phases:

(1) When the impact shoes 23 are out of contact with the car.

- (-2)When the impact shoes 23 are in contact with the top of the car.

When the impact shoes 23 are out of contact with the top of the car 8, the vibrator l3 may be considered as a body with rotation about the point P. The rotating shaft 32 with its counterweights 3? turns in bearings 29 mounted on the bridge 15. Centrifugal forces produced by the counter-weights 31 are opposed by the inertia and centrifugal forces of the bridge l5, the motor support 39 and the motor 6 I.

If no other external forces were applied to the vibrator I3, an instantaneous spin axis or center of rotation would exist at some point between the center of the shaft 32 and the center of gravity of the counter-weights 31 with the resultthat the centrifugal force of the vibrator I3 is equal and opposite to that of the counterweights. This means that when the center of the unbalanced weights 3'! is in the lowest position, the device 23 is at the top of its movement.

Components along the line XX that tend to produce reciprocal sliding movement of the bridge iii are opposed by frictional forces at the pivot point P. These frictional forces reduce the amplitude of movement along the top of the car 8 so that the center of the shaft 32 moves through a path of partial ellipse having its major axis along the line Y-Y and its minor axis along the line XX.

When the impact shoes 23 contact the top of the car the rotational energy of the bridge 15 is converted to an impact blow which produces vibrational movement in the body of the car. The material in the car 8 is, therefore, discharged through the hopper openings H by the impact blows on the top of the car sides. At the moment before impact, the vibrator I3 is pivoting about the point P so that when impact occurs the entire energy of the resultant blow is concentrated at the shoes 23 on the line Y-Y. Since the line YY intersects the line XX at the center of percussion C and the resultant of the impact forces lies along the line YY, the pivot shoes 23a will remain in contact with the tops of the sides of the car 8 and the entire impact energy will be applied through the shoes 23.

It is noted that the motor support 39 is resiliently connected to the pivotal side of the bridge if: so that the motor 6! is not subjected to undue impact forces when the vibrator i3 is in operation. Further, the belting material 58 within the springs 55 and 5'! acts to dampen the vibratory movements of the motor support 39 so that motor vibration is reduced to a minimum. Inasmuch as the point of pivotal connection between the motor support 39 and the bridge I5 is on the opposite side of the shaft 32 from the motor 6!, vibrations of the motor 6| and its support 39 will not appreciably change the distance from the axis of the motor shaft 53 to the axis of the shaft 32.

As illustrated in Fig. 1 the vibrator I3 is positioned on the car 8 so that the shoes 23 and 23a rest upon the tops of the car sides. The chains id are attached through the holes 22 to the ends of the outer retaining plates 29 so that the vibrator it may be guided to its desired location on the car sides, and the chains M are then employed to maintain the vibrator in the desired location.

I It is to be understood that the form of the invention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described the invention, we claim:

1. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom discharge containers, comprising a bridge, means on the bottom of said bridge at each end portion thereof for supporting the bridge on the tops of the sides of the container to be discharged, said bridge being adapted to pivot about the extremities of the supporting means at one side of the bridge for delivering impact blows through the supporting means at the other side of the bridge, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge at the side which delivers said impact blows, said shaft having its axis passing through the center of percussion relative to the pivotal extremities of said supporting means, a motor support pivotally connected at one of its end portions to the impact delivering side of said bridge, resilient means connecting the other end portion of said motor support to the pivotal side of said bridge for limited movement relative to the latter, a motor mounted on the resiliently connected end portion of said motor support, and means drivingly connecting said motor and said shaft for rotating said shaft to cause the unbalanced condition of the shaft to effect said pivotal movement of the bridge for delivering said impact blows, the line of force of said impact blows passing substantially through the impact delivering portion of said supporting means and the axis of said shaft.

2. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom discharge containers, comprising a bridge, means on the bottom of said brid e at each end portion thereof for supporting the bridge on the tops of the sides of the container to be discharged, said bridge being adapted to pivot about the extremities of the supporting means at one side of the bridge for delivering impact blows through the supporting means at the other side of the bridge, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge at the side which delivers said impact blows, said shaft having its axis passing through the center of percussion relative to the pivotal extremities of said supporting means, a pair of arms each having one end portion pivotally connected to the impact delivering side of said bridge, resilient means connecting the other end portions of said arms to the pivotal side of said bridge for limited relative movement therebetween, a platform mounted on said arms adjacent the resiliently connected end portions thereof, a motor mounted on said platform, and means drivingly connecting said motor and said shaft for rotating said shaft to cause the unbalanced condition of the shaft to effect said pivotal movement of the bridge for delivering said impact blows, the line of force of said impact blows passing substantially through the impact delivering portion of said suppOrting means and the axis of said shaft.

3. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom discharge containers, comprising a bridge, means on the bottom of said bridge at each end portion thereof for supporting the bridge on the tops of the sides of the container to be discharged, said bridge being adapted to pivot about the extremities of the supporting means at one side of the bridge for delivering impact blows through the supporting means at the other side of the bridge, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge at the side which de! livers said impact blows, said shaft having its axis passing through the center of percussion relative to the pivotal extremities of said supporting means, a pair of arms each having one end portion pivotally connected to the impact delivering side of said bridge, resilient means connecting the other end portions of said arms to the pivotal side of said bridge for limited relative movement therebetween, means associated with said resilient means for damping the movement of said arms, a platform mounted on said arms adjacent the resiliently connected end portions thereof, a motor mounted on said platform, and means drivingly connecting said motor and said shaft for rotating said shaft to cause the unbalanced condition of the shaft to effect said pivotal movement of the bridge for delivering said impact blows, the line of force of said impact blows passing substantially through the impact delivering portion of said supporting means and the axis of said shaft.

4. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom discharge containers, comprising a bridge, means on the bottom of said bridge at each end portion thereof for supporting the bridge on the tops of the sides of the container to be discharged, said bridge being adapted to pivot about the extremities of the supporting means at one side of the bridge for delivering impact blows through the supporting means at the other side of the bridge, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge at the side which delivers said impact blows, said shaft having its axis passing through the center of percussion relative to the pivotal extremities of said supporting means, a pair of arms each having one end portion pivotally connected to the impact delivering side of said bridge, resilient means connecting the other end portions of said arms to the pivotal side of said bridge for limited relative movement therebetween, a platform mounted on said arms adjacent the resiliently connected end portions thereof, a motor mounted on said platform, means drivingly connecting said motor and said shaft for rotating said shaft to cause the unbalanced condition of the shaft to effect said pivotal movement of the bridge for delivering said impact blows, the line of force of said impact blows passing substantially through the impact delivering portion of said supporting means and the axis of said shaft, and housing means mounted on one of said arms for cooperation therewith to substantially enclose said drive means.

5. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom containers, comprising a bridge, means on the bottom of said bridge at each end portion thereof for supporting the bridge on the tops of the sides of the container to be discharged, said bridge being adapted to pivot about the extremities of the supporting means at one side of the bridge for delivering impact blows through the supporting means at the other side of the bridge, the center of percussion of the vibrator, relative to the pivotal extremities of said bridge supporting means, being located at the side of the bridge which delivers said impact blows to minimize the reaction at the pivotally supported side of said bridge due to the impact blows, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge in parallel relationship with said pivotal extremities and having its axis passing through said center of percussion, a motor attached to said bridge and located at the pivotally supported side of the latter, and means drivingly connecting said motor and said shaft for rotating said shaft to effect said pivotal movement of the bridge for delivering said impact blows, the line of force 01 said impact blows passing substantially through the impact delivering portion of said supporting means and the axis of said shaft.

6. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom containers, comprising a bridge, means on the bottom of said bridge at each end portion thereof for supporting the bridge on the tops of the sides of the container to be discharged, said bridge being adapted to pivot about the extremities of the supporting means at one side of the bridge for delivering impact blows through the supporting means at the other side of the bridge, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge at the side which delivers said impact blows, said shaft having its axis passing through the center of percussion relative to the pivotal extremities of said supporting means, mounting means associated with said bridge, a prime mover attached to said mounting means, means for pivotally supporting said mounting means for movement about an axis fixed relative to said bridge spaced from said prime mover and paralleling said unbalanced shaft, means for resiliently supporting said mounting means, said pivotal and resilient supporting means for said mounting means being located in spaced relation to each other relative to the length of said mounting means, and means drivingly connecting said motor and said shaft for rotating said shaft to effect said pivotal movement of the bridge for delivering said impact blows, the line of force of said impact blows passing substantially through the impact delivering portion of said supporting means and the axis of said shaft.

'7. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom containers, comprising a bridge, means at each end portion of said bridge for supporting the latter on the tops of the sides of the container to be discharged, said bridge being adapted to pivot about the supporting means at one side of the bridge for delivering impact blows through the supporting means at the other side of the bridge, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge on the side which delivers said impact blows, mounting means extending across said bridge at right angles to said shaft, means for pivotally supporting said mounting means on the impact delivering side of the bridge for movement about an axis, fixed relative to said bridge, paralleling and adjacent to said shaft, a prime mover rigidly attached to said mounting means on the pivotal side of said bridge, means for resiliently supporting said mounting means, said pivotal and resilient supporting means for said mounting means being located in spaced relation to each other relative to the length of the prime mover mounting means, and flexible means drivingly connecting said prime mover and said shaft for rotating the latter to impart said pivotal movement to the bridge.

8. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom containers, comprising a bridge, means at each end portion of said bridge for supporting the latter on the tops of the sides of the container to be discharged, said bridge being adapted to pivot about the supporting means at one side of the bridge for delivering impact blows through the supporting means at the other side of the bridge, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted longitudinally of said bridge on the side which delivers said impact blows, a pair of parallel arms extending across said bridge at right angles to said shaft, means for pivotally supporting said pair of arms on the impact delivering side of said bridge for movement about a common axis, fixed relative to said bridge, paralleling said shaft, a platform mounted on said arms on the pivotal side of said bridge, a prime mover rigidly attached to said platform, means for resiliently supporting the pair of arms on the bridge, and flexible means drivingly connecting said prime mover and said shaft for rotating the latter to impart said pivotal movement to the bridge.

9. A vibrator for discharging hopper bottom containers, comprising a bridge, means at each end portion of said bridge for supporting the latter on the tops of the sides of the container to be discharged, said bridge being adapted to pivot about the supporting means at one side of the bridge for delivering impact blows through the supporting means at the other side of the bridge, an unbalanced shaft rotatably mounted 2O longitudinally of said bridge on the side which delivers said impact blows, an elongated mounting base extending across said bridge at right angles to said shaft, means for pivotally supporting one end portion of said mounting base on the impact delivering side of the bridge for movement about an axis, fixed relative to said bridge, paralleling said shaft, a prime mover rigidly attached to the other end portion of said mounting base on the pivotal side of said bridge, spring means for supporting the end portion of said mounting base on which said prime mover is mounted, and flexible means drivingly connecting said prime mover and said shaft for rotating the latter to impart said pivotal movement to the bridge.

ALBERT MUSSCHOOT.

CHARLES M. YQUNG, JR.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,144,046 Cundall Jan. 17, 1939 2,471,849 Wallace May 31, 1949 2,494,584 Rouse Jan. 17, 1950 2,504,789 Bankauf et a1. Apr. 18, 1950 

